2025 Alcohol Guide to Clinical Trials, Research & Treatment

What is it? Conditions Research Further Clinical Trials Conclusion

What is Alcohol?

The alcohol in an alcoholic drink is ethanol, produced by fermenting grains, fruits, or other foods that contain sugar. Alcohol has been used as a beverage since prehistoric times. It is mentioned in ancient Egypt, Babylon, and many other societies.

Alcohol produces intoxication due to its chemical composition. Because alcohol molecules are so small, they easily disrupt the brain’s neurotransmitters. The body cannot store alcohol, so it is broken down by the liver and excreted in urine.

What Conditions is Alcohol Associated With?

Many people consume alcohol during recreational activities. Consumed infrequently, it may have few or no health effects. However, it is also associated with an extremely wide variety of dire health conditions, many of which are chronic and/or can be fatal.

About 15 million Americans suffer from an alcohol abuse disorder.

What’s more, only about 6.7% of people who have a drinking problem seek professional help. About 88,000 people die of alcohol-related causes every year. Problem drinking can result in physical dependence on alcohol.

Since alcohol consumption leads to reductions in reaction time, judgment, and decision-making, any episode of drinking can lead to harmful accidents or injury. However, most health risks of alcohol come from problem drinking, including binge drinking.

Conditions associated with long-term alcohol misuse include:

High blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular events
Cirrhosis (permanent scarring) of the liver caused by alcohol exposure
A higher risk of certain cancers, including breast, mouth, throat, and liver
Decline in cognitive performance, especially in learning and memory
Greater likelihood of mental health complications like anxiety and depression

What Research Currently Exists on the Effects of Alcohol?

For many years, research around alcohol focused on the idea that it had health benefits if used in moderation. However, recent research is casting doubt on these long-held assumptions.

Over the last five years, scientific studies have confirmed the connection between even moderate alcohol use and premature death, cancer, stroke, and high blood pressure. Some studies also suggest that abstaining from alcohol can improve mental health.

In general, a scientific consensus is forming around the idea that zero alcohol consumption is the best approach for individuals who want to safeguard their overall health.

Why Are Further Clinical Trials on the Effects of Alcohol Important?

Alcohol and its risks have been researched extensively. However, there are still many areas where more findings are needed. 40%-60% of people treated for alcoholism eventually relapse. The precise brain chemistry involved in alcoholism and successfully abstaining from problem drinking are not understood. Quality of support for sufferers can be spotty.

A limited number of medications are available to help people with alcoholism. However, these are effective in only a fraction of cases.

Likewise, further research is necessary to support the anecdotal conclusions of treatment organizations, especially faith-based organizations, about the best way to provide social support during long-term treatment.

Current Clinical Trials on the Effects of Alcohol

This is the most recent list of clinical trials on the effects of alcohol submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov.

Alcohol clinical resources are developed by organizations worldwide. Watch this space for further information about alcohol studies that may lead to groundbreaking treatment. If you have a study to include on our site, contact our team.

Drinking, Acetate, and Stress
on July 28, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder; Alcohol Use, Unspecified; Heavy Drinker; Alcohol Use Disorder, Moderate, in Sustained Remission Interventions: Other: Deuterium Metabolic Imaging with deuterated acetate tracer Sponsors: Yale University; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
Predictive and Impact of Pain After 6 Months of Radiotherapy, in Head and Neck Cancer
on July 25, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Neuropathic Pain; Anxiety Disorder/Anxiety State; Pain, Chronic; Alcohol Use Disorder; Psychoactive Substance Use; Sleep; Symptoms and Signs; Addiction Nicotine Interventions: Other: Questionnaire Sponsors: University Hospital, Caen; Centre Francois Baclesse Recruiting
Improving Alcohol and Substance Use Care Access, Outcome, Equity During the Reproductive Years
on July 25, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol-Related Disorders; Substance-Related Disorders; Mental Health; Reproductive Health; Sexual Health; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Contraception; Maternal Health; Pregnancy; Women's Health Interventions: Behavioral: Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Sponsors: Emory University; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA); Stanford University; Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts Recruiting
Role of Phosphatidylethanol in Predicting Perioperative Outcomes of Admitted Patients at UHCMC
on July 25, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Postoperative Complications; Alcohol Use Disorder Interventions: Other: Blood Draw Sponsors: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Recruiting
iTBS for Alcohol Use Disorder
on July 24, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Interventions: Device: TMS Sponsors: Nicholas Balderston, PhD Recruiting
Gepaktiv vs UDCA and Ademetionine in MAFLD With Hepatomegaly
on July 23, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Metabolic Dysfunction-associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD); Hepatomegaly; Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL); Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD); Fatty Liver; Fatty Liver, Alcoholic; Fatty Liver, Nonalcoholic; Fatty Liver Disease Interventions: Combination Product: Dietary supplement "Gepaktiv"; Drug: UDCA (Ursodeoxycholic acid); Drug: Ademetionine Sponsors: Phenomen Pharma Recruiting
Optimizing a Digital AEP Risk Intervention With Native Women and Communities
on July 23, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Exposed Pregnancy; Unplanned Pregnancy; Alcohol Use, Unspecified; Contraception Use; Sexual Behavior Interventions: Behavioral: CARRII Native Rapid Pilot Testing Sponsors: University of Virginia; University of Minnesota; Missouri Breaks Industries Research, Inc.; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
Developing a Music Listening mHealth Intervention for Stress Reduction in Early Recovery
on July 23, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Sponsors: Washington State University; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
Influence of Mavoglurant on Alcohol Craving and Drinking in Heavy Drinkers
on July 23, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Consumption; Heavy Drinker; Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) Interventions: Drug: Mavoglurant Sponsors: Yale University; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
Alcohol Research in HIV: Relapse Prevention
on July 22, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: HIV; Alcohol Use Disorder Interventions: Behavioral: Relapse Prevention Intervention Sponsors: Johns Hopkins University; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
Game-Based Intervention to Reduce Alcohol-Related Harms Among Sexual and Gender Minority Youth
on July 22, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Alcohol Problem; Harm Reduction; Alcohol-Related Harm Interventions: Behavioral: Singularities Game; Behavioral: Food4Thought Sponsors: University of Pittsburgh; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting
DEVELOPMENT OF A NOVEL PEER RECOVERY SUPPORTER TRAINING PLATFORM
on July 22, 2025 at 4:00 am
Conditions: Substance Use Disorders; Alcohol Use Disorders; Recovery Support Services; Peer Recovery Coaching Interventions: Behavioral: Training-as-Usual (TAU); Behavioral: TDPP-A (Asynchronous Platform); Behavioral: TDPP-Z (Asynchronous + Zoom) Sponsors: Thrive Digital Health, LLC; National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) Recruiting

Conclusion

Alcohol has been part of human history for thousands of years. However, modern medicine still has a long way to go in managing the serious health risks associated with it. More alcohol clinical studies are crucial for discovering the alcohol clinical resources millions of people need to stop drinking.